EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini called today for stepped up cooperation and dialogue between Europe and its Mediterranean neighbours in North Africa and the Middle East to fight terrorism.
Mogherini made the appeal at a meeting of foreign ministers and representatives from the 28 European Union member states and delegations from eight North Africa and Middle East nations of the southern rim of the Mediterranean.
"It is important to hear from you that your everyday greeting is 'salam alaikum', peace be with you, and this is the main message we Europeans need to know first of all, to restart intercultural learning that is important for prevention," she told a news conference.
"If we want to end jihadist terrorism, we have to go to the root of the question and favour intercultural and interreligious dialogue," she added.
"All nations in the region are confronted with a fragile security situation which has worsened due to several armed conflicts, mainly in Syria and Libya."
Foreign ministers and representatives from the 28 European Union member states took part in the gathering along delegations from Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority and Tunisia.
The EU's other two southern partners, Libya and Syria, both torn by conflict, stayed away.
It was the first high-level meeting of the 43-nation Mediterranean Union since the body was launched in 2008 with the aim of creating a more equal dialogue between the wealthy EU and the poorer states that line the Mediterranean.
Mogherini said she would like to have such a minister- level meeting on a yearly basis.
"We must listen more," she said.
Her views were echoed by Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry.
"We should speak clearly and freely about delicate subjects," he said.
